Do folks on WBF care about budget priced audio gear, tweaks, etc.?

the sound of Tao · Aug 13, 2018

While there’s the odd sign of unrestrained budget madness at times here but for the most part many here seem to value, embrace and celebrate gear that’s great generally and like many I also love good value so if it’s budget and it’s great all the better.

I have some inexpensive gear in the system and also some more expensive gear as well and the gear that I have that I appreciate the most can be from either end of that spectrum for once its playing the magic I tend to forget about most things including the cost.

I never see spending more as a plus but when I do (a bit like child birth) once the pain is gone you let that stuff go and move on to the reward. So budget good is always good and generally I take time with buying decisions and usually let sanity mostly prevail and only buy those things that I can continue to afford and unless gear makes me happy most every day I’ll rarely spend much on something at all.

A mate of mine jokes about factoring in bragging rights as a gear choice parameter but genuinely knowing that you own the most expensive system seems to provide more comfort when you are listening to your system rather than listening to your music. Music doesn’t really care about your budget.

PeterA · Aug 13, 2018

NorthStar said:
Win, it was just humor, nothing else, simple human humor.
We care more about people than our gear, we care more about visiting the beautiful places and people of our planet than listening music in our listening rooms, we care more about being there in real life in front of the musicians than trying to replicate them in our rooms. ...No matter how much money we spend, no matter how much money we save, no matter what, we care about people, about musicians.
Music matters, but less than the players playing it, and less than the gear it's playing on.

All true Bob, but this is a thread discussion about gear.

NorthStar · Aug 13, 2018

I know very well that Peter, 100%

That turntable I posted; she wasn't budget gear? She sure was, no matter if only $499 ... source gear under $5K

NorthStar · Aug 13, 2018

the sound of Tao said:
While there’s the odd sign of unrestrained budget madness at times here but for the most part many here seem to value, embrace and celebrate gear that’s great generally and like many I also love good value so if it’s budget and it’s great all the better.

I have some inexpensive gear in the system and also some more expensive gear as well and the gear that I have that I appreciate the most can be from either end of that spectrum for once its playing the magic I tend to forget about most things including the cost.

I never see spending more as a plus but when I do (a bit like child birth) once the pain is gone you let that stuff go and move on to the reward. So budget good is always good and generally I take time with buying decisions and usually let sanity mostly prevail and only buy those things that I can continue to afford and unless gear makes me happy most every day I’ll rarely spend much on something at all.

A mate of mine jokes about factoring in bragging rights as a gear choice parameter but genuinely knowing that you own the most expensive system seems to provide more comfort when you are listening to your system rather than listening to your music. Music doesn’t really care about your budget.

+1 ...That is also my philosophy. I love reading about the most expensive stuff, and I love value in audio gear too. It's amazing today the quality sound we can get for so little investment. It's a beautiful audio gear world we live in, from all classes and places.

the sound of Tao · Aug 13, 2018

I also love hearing and reading about the price no object stuff as well Bob. There are so many things I can’t afford that a few more like MSB selects, Kondo and Ch precision don’t make the things I have any less worthwhile or enjoyable. If I could afford them I would be ordering them in right now completely guilt free.

I’m going in for a swim in the blue, blue Pacific Ocean right now and that is absolutely priceless and admission is completely free so my spending on audio and music is now justified and balanced out... I am at peace with myself.

Hi-FiGuy · Aug 13, 2018

Bruce B said:
There are a couple here that think the latest/greatest/most expensive gear is the best. They are chasing their tails. It may sound different, but not any "better".

Running a studio, I have to make good business decisions. Because I cater to the audiophile, I do have to have the best sounding, but as we have all learned, the best sounding is not the most $$$.

I use my 2nd and 3rd system to check masters on other equipment. Those systems are are less than $5k.

A friend of mine years ago made an album at A&M and he did just that, made copies on CD and played them in every conceivable way/device possible before he settled on the final mix. He even got a radio station to play a couple songs and drove around in his car and listened to them.

NorthStar · Aug 13, 2018

the sound of Tao said:
I also love hearing and reading about the price no object stuff as well Bob. There are so many things I can’t afford that a few more like MSB selects, Kondo and Ch precision don’t make the things I have any less worthwhile or enjoyable. If I could afford them I would be ordering them in right now completely guilt free.

I’m going in for a swim in the blue, blue Pacific Ocean right now and that is absolutely priceless and admission is completely free so my spending on audio and music is now justified and balanced out... I am at peace with myself.

Are we blood related or is it just a Pacific Ocean thing.

Tango · Aug 13, 2018

By definition “high end” means no generic, no cheap. I do have no interest in lower end. Good stuff normally don’t come cheap same as Tomahawk steak. I eat $1 noodle on street sidewalk regularly. But when talk high end audio I am not shy to say I like reading $100,0000+++ turntable

.

Kind regards,
Tang

the sound of Tao · Aug 14, 2018

NorthStar said:
Are we blood related or is it just a Pacific Ocean thing.

Ha, we are oceanic, and the sea that flows inside of all of us.

NorthStar · Aug 14, 2018

I knew it, it's ocean related.

ack · Aug 14, 2018

thedudeabides said:
Just curious. To clarify what I mean by budget, speaker systems, amps, preamps, int. amps, source gear under $5K; cables, cartridges, iso platforms, audio racks under $1K.

If so, how many folks have this gear in their main system?

Trying to determine forum consensus of what the "B" means in WBF.

Great question, and I am glad I have quite a few products under <=5K: my Berkeley; my transport (used); each one of the interconnects (heavily discounted); tuner; subwoofer; turntable; arm; cartridge; speed controller; reel-to-reel; cassette decks; Typhon; power distributors; all power cords combined. Excluded: amps, preamp, speaker cables, speakers, phono stage.

Al M. · Aug 14, 2018

Tango said:
By definition “high end” means no generic, no cheap. I do have no interest in lower end. Good stuff normally don’t come cheap same as Tomahawk steak. I eat $1 noodle on street sidewalk regularly. But when talk high end audio I am not shy to say I like reading $100,0000+++ turntable .

Kind regards,
Tang

What about your SME 3012R arm? That's not really expensive. Is that "lower end"? I hope not, and it doesn't seem that way.

KeithR · Aug 14, 2018

thedudeabides said:
Just curious. To clarify what I mean by budget, speaker systems, amps, preamps, int. amps, source gear under $5K; cables, cartridges, iso platforms, audio racks under $1K.

I'll be totally honest from my years of experience on the forum and some people will think this is elitist - no.

Look at most of the threads with 100s of posts and they usually are about expensive gear.

The joke about this forum is the WB stands for biggest wallet

twitch · Aug 14, 2018

KeithR said:
I'll be totally honest from my years of experience on the forum and some people will think this is elitist - no.

Look at most of the threads with 100s of posts and they usually are about expensive gear.

The joke about this forum is the WB stands for biggest wallet

how many times have you listen to 'expensive gear' poorly set up in a lousy environment ? Myself, more times than I care to remember....... big egos, big money.......stupid is, stupid does .....

ack · Aug 14, 2018

twitch said:
how many times have you listen to 'expensive gear' poorly set up in a lousy environment ? Myself, more times than I care to remember....... big egos, big money.......stupid is, stupid does .....

+1

bonzo75 · Aug 14, 2018

twitch said:
how many times have you listen to 'expensive gear' poorly set up in a lousy environment ? Myself, more times than I care to remember....... big egos, big money.......stupid is, stupid does .....

99% of the time

dbeau · Aug 14, 2018

I get the Best that I can afford.
Wilson X1 speakers (demos), Prima Luna HP mono amps w/KT150s (replaced Arc Ref 210s), Berkeley Alpha DAC (old iteration), Krell Evo 202 preamp (demo), Equtech Q, source SONOS w/Emperical's SM,assorted cables/wires (some expensive, some not but great too).
I enjoy this forum in that the best is evaluated and mods discussed by the knowledgeable and experienced.

SuperDave · Aug 14, 2018

twitch said:
how many times have you listen to 'expensive gear' poorly set up in a lousy environment ? Myself, more times than I care to remember....... big egos, big money.......stupid is, stupid does .....

About the same amount of times I've heard reasonably priced gear sound bad. If the users experience and knowledge are shortcomings, the price of the gear won't matter.

cjfrbw · Aug 14, 2018

bonzo75 said:
99% of the time

That is so unkind. It does not exceed 98 percent.

I think that what is misleading is that owners of expensive toys convey that jewelry is superior in sound by fiat assertion. The only way to disprove is by 'bank account matching' and buying similar stuff to get the merchant/fan kudos and champagne corks for a brief time.

Many pilgrims have stated to me that the cost is no object systems are surprisingly disappointing a good number of times.

When listening, though, I flatter myself that my hearing is 'French Menu' in that I am not just listening with some kind of cost comparator. I have no problem acknowledging when expensive systems sound great, and I have said so many times in the past. However, there are also many systems of more modest to moderate cost that also sound great, and I have also commented on those.

I do think that the providers of placebos and jewelry provide a service, though, if it is only psychologic and 'pride of ownership' for the massive, bursting wallets of some audiophiles. Without the stuff to spend on, some of them might actually go around the bend.

I also get a thrill from the insane, expensive and cutting edge edifice installations, especially if it ALSO sounds good, so in that sense they also provide a service to me, if only a fantasy service.

I was listening to Future Sounds of London last night on my Pleasanton big rig, and I was so captivated and hypnotically intoxicated with this trance stuff that I thought, if this were any better, they would have to carry me out of here in a straight jacket.

PeterA · Aug 14, 2018

bonzo75 said:
99% of the time

That is surprising. What should we make of all of your reports? Are they in the 1%?

Do folks on WBF care about budget priced audio gear, tweaks, etc.?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member Sponsor

Member

VIP/Donor

Well-Known Member

Member

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member

VIP/Donor

VIP/Donor

Well-Known Member

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads